North Karon beach, 16/7/2014.

Doesn't look like there's much of a rip current, but... the flags are up.

"The sea was angry that day my friends."

"The sea was angry that day my friends."

"... like an old man trying to send back soup in a deli."

For 3 years during summer holidays I was the sole lifeguard on weekdays at a beach which could be just as bad & quite often worse although most days there were other guys around who could help. My preferred method for rescue, as we did not have any motorised craft, was the surf reel. It took nearly all your energy to get out to the person in distress as you would be dragging a long length of rope which also got pulled sideways by the rip but once there you just put your hand up & would be reeled back to shore.

For 3 years during summer holidays I was the sole lifeguard on weekdays at a beach which could be just as bad & quite often worse although most days there were other guys around who could help. My preferred method for rescue, as we did not have any motorised craft, was the surf reel. It took nearly all your energy to get out to the person in distress as you would be dragging a long length of rope which also got pulled sideways by the rip but once there you just put your hand up & would be reeled back to shore.

Looks like typical Council workers. 4 guys watching, as one guy does the work.

For 3 years during summer holidays I was the sole lifeguard on weekdays at a beach which could be just as bad & quite often worse although most days there were other guys around who could help. My preferred method for rescue, as we did not have any motorised craft, was the surf reel. It took nearly all your energy to get out to the person in distress as you would be dragging a long length of rope which also got pulled sideways by the rip but once there you just put your hand up & would be reeled back to shore.

Kudos to you!

Looking very sporty there Valentine!

Looking very sporty there Valentine!

You must venture down to Soi Paradise occasionally, do you SP?

Looking very sporty there Valentine!

You must venture down to Soi Paradise occasionally, do you SP?

I'm sure you do. Don't you live nearby?

"The sea was angry that day my friends."

"... like an old man trying to send back soup in a deli."

And considering the British Open is on.............."thats a hole in one".

Trained as a lifeguard I can tell you, here,in Phuket, prevention is 85% of the battle. I once saved a massive Russian guy who for sure would've/could've drowned one or two of these Thai gurads the panic state he was in. I had a surfboard,pushed it to the guy,then got him in. As a kid my final exam was saving our instructor,who,also was/is a massive guy and he literally tried to drown you,get him out you passed. Wasn't going to go through that again.

I agree with these guys,red flags, keep em out.

I wish the red flags did keep them out.

Sadly, many ignore them and make the papers as a result.

it is funny though as that young guy pulling that old school contraption does resemble a young Valentine.

Can't imagine struggling through the surf tethered to that deal to get to the rescue............

Yes, that photo does resemble a young Valentine, but that would make him about 84 years old today, which he certainly isn't.

Yes, that photo does resemble a young Valentine, but that would make him about 84 years old today, which he certainly isn't.

You know, I did think that was a young Val. I did not know the age of the photo.

Several posts removed, petty squabbling.

Looking very sporty there Valentine!

You must venture down to Soi Paradise occasionally, do you SP?

I'm sure you do. Don't you live nearby?

I do live in Patong, but do not frequent Soi Paradise. To use another quote from a famous sitcom, "Not that there's anything wrong with that."

i had my bronze at 12 in oz 60yrs ago and if i saw them russian men or women flondering in surf like large whales i would be running other way to save own life